n 



''Every man should strive to be 
The architect of his own fortune/' 



LEARN 



TO 



INVENT 



Practical Instruction 

Valuable Suggestions 



1907 




r : ■ 






LEARJSr TO INVENT 

FIRST STEPS FOR BEGINNKKS 
YOUNG AND OI.D 

Practical Instruction 
Valuable Suggestions 

TO 

LEARN TO INVENT 

We should apprentice ourselves as it were to the 

Inventor 

Study the original lines of his thoughts 

As 

The young artist studies the master work. 

Copyright 1907 by S. -E. Clark 



S. E, CLARK 
Rhiladelphia Renna. 

By mail 25 cents Estb. 188; 



'jUtirfAXYofCONGRFSS 
two OoDies KeGelved 

OCT 12 t90r 

Copynffht Ertry 

CLASS A 'XXC, No. 

COPY 6. 



PREFACE. 



The booklets "]\Iental Xiits" and "A Book of Maxims" have 
met with so much favor I have decided to try again. I submit 
this httle effort to those young and old who desire information 
and suggestions on the subject, in the form of a "first step" or 
introduction, for those who would learn to invent. 

Though it is entirely a subject for the deepest study, I favor 
a personal talk, digressing at times in an effort to interest and 
instruct, to enliven and cheer. I see little hope for the casual 
reader. "As ye sow so shall ye also reap." Aly faith rests in the 
careful, persevering student. I sincerely hope that as a whole 
the effort may prove helpful to many. As to the future, may 
you all realize. 

"Full manv a pupil has become more famous than his master." 

S. E. C. 

Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 3, 1907. 



INTRODUCTION. 

Invention is the fountain source of material progress. It 
would indeed be a fruitless effort to try to express in adequate 
language its wondrous possibilities and practical worth to man- 
kind. Its field of action surpasses all others. It is most apparent 
in our daily walks of life. Every human effort owes it homage. 
The fame of many inventors has encircled the earth. They have 
been feted and honored in many ways, their names indelibly in- 
scribed on the roll of the earth's greatest men. Fortune and 
fame have been show^ered on them with a lavish hand, and yet 
little or no effort is made to direct thought into this vast and 
unlimited field for study, that people may learn to invent. The 
whole subject is left quite in the dark. It is on the go-as-you- 
please, hit-and-miss plan. People become inventors by mere 
chance, and are viewed as possessing a special gift of nature. I 
hold that invention is just as tangible as any of the sciences and 
can just as well be taught. The human mind is naturally in- 
ventive. The trend will improve and grow or it will wilt and 
die, according to the attention it receives. To learn to invent we 
should apprentice ourselves, as it were, to the inventor, take up 
his invention and study the original lines of his thought, as the 
young artist studies the master work. First learn to imitate, and 
the creative thought will follow and develop. I shall be content 
to confine my effort to the simplest forms of devices I can call to 
mind, a first step. But don't mistake nor be discouraged. To 
the average man and the particular people to whom I hope this 
pamphlet will appeal the small and simple devices are the cream 
of the field. They are easily handled, quickly turned, and many 
pay fabulous sums. Oftentimes the idea will flit before the 



mind like a will-o'-the-wisp or its zephyr-like touch is not real- 
ized. I believe many people have experienced a semi-conscious- 
ness of the presence of opportunity and allowed it to pass un- 
heeded by, that had they taken it up intelligently and properly 
studied and developed it they would have become famous. 

^Ve should inform and prepare ourselves. Be ready to act 
on the slightest intimation. "There is a tide in the affairs of men 
which, taken at the flood, leads to fortune ; omitted, all the voy- 
age of their life is bound in shallows and in miseries."' 

' 'The nearer to the practical men keep 
The less they deal in vague and abstract things 
The less they deal iu huge mysterious words 
The mightier is their power, 

:^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ 

The simple peasant who observes a truth, 
And from the fact deduces principle; 
Adds solid treasuse to the public wealth, 
The theorist who dreams a rainbow dream 
And calls h3^pothesis philosophy, 
At best is but a paper financier 
Who palms his specious promises for gold , 
Facts are the basis of philosophy ; 
Philosophy the harmony of facts." 
Thomas L. Harris, in "Lyrics of a Golden Age " 



LEARN TO INVENT 

SMALL TALK. 

Since we will interest ourselves in the very small affairs that 
hang like a great cloud of fringe on the science of invention, I 
think it well to make a note of some of the bright little things 
that have been brought forth. Many of these little mites have 
proven to be veritable gold mines to the fortunate originator or 
patentee. They are too numerous to classify. They appear so 
very simple, embodying but a single thought, we naturally asso- 
ciate "'luck." Indeed, many did come to mind uninvited, but it 
was to an observing mind, a thinking mind. If we desire to par- 
ticipate in and avail ourselves of these wondrous opportunities 
we must observe and think. 

The dents on the old tin tobacco boxes, one on the box, the 
other on the lid, placed to register with and thus secure it when 
closed, was certainly very simple. 

It is said a man was sewing and the needle would often 
slip off the end of the thimble when he would attempt to push it 
through. He became vexed and struck the thimble a blow on 
the end with a hammer. It was first convex, but the blow from 
the hammer made it quite flat on the end. Upon renewing the 
sewing he found the thimble worked splendidly; the needle did 
not slip. He became interested and finally took out a patent for 
a thimble with a concave end. 



6 LEARN TO INVENT 

Certainly, to any one who would attempt to get up a 
machine to do sewing it would appear as a mere matter of force 
of circumstance to use a needle with the eye in the point, since 
necessarily the other end would be attached to the machine. 

The return ball, in homely language a wooden ball wath a 
rubber string fastened to it, was certainly simple enough ; also 
the metal toe cap formerly extensively used on children's shoes 
to prolong their wear. 

The little wheels on the end of the pole on the trolley cars 
would have been a bonanza were it not that the introduction of 
the trolley system w^as so slow. The seventeen years for which 
patents are granted passed by before the system became in gen- 
eral use. This slowness to become general has ruined many 
grand opportunities. It is a fact to be reckoned with. 

Many successful inventors have had their hopes blasted at 
times by the apathy of the people in adopting their inventions in 
time for them to reap their just reward. While the inventor nat- 
urally and perforce must lead, he should be discreet, and not go 
so far ahead that he cannot get the people to follow. Some 
matters must be approached gradually. 

The little ball fastening so common on our money purses is 
a gem. It would be rare indeed to provide any other device to 
take its place, it is so convenient, simple and practical. A fastener, 
to be a success, must make a noise in closing; it becomes the 
signal to the mind that the work is properly done. 

The hook and eye "see that hump" was simple enough, but 
I fancy it required a splendid campaign of advertising and busi- 
ness push to get it to the front and make it pay. 

Many inventions are virtually lost because they are not prop- 
erly pushed. My advice is, if you have an invention and are not 
situated properly to push it, sell it. Experience leads me to 
observe that we constantly change our views or see things differ- 
ently. Some things look good to-day and later we do not think 
well of them, and vice versa, other things improve and grow in 
our estimation. When an idea of a device occurs, study it ; think 
how it can best be made; make a drawing of it; take up every 
detail and material best suited. Try to get it in the most simple 
form. When, after careful consideration, you feel that you have 
perfected it in your mind, have a model made and see that it 
meets every requirement. If youMo not sell the invention you 
can contract the manufacturing and go into the business of sell- 
ing, or you can put it out on a royalty basis. 



LEARN TO INVENT 



All inventors use certain mechanical principles. The same 
principle is often found in many different inventions ; hence, it 
is well to study these principles, as the knowledge of them will 
help you to perfect and bring forth your invention. In this con- 
nection I would advise that you possess all the little novelties you 
can ; study them ; examine them closely and ask yourself why 
did he this and that. Take up each one and try to get a clear 
understanding of it; practice explaining it to others and impress 
the points on your mind ; they may be of great service to you 
some day. Many times a good idea is poorly carried out, the 
mechanical arrangements are not well adapted either for perform- 
ing the work or to effect lowest cost in construction. These de- 
fects give rise to improvements. It certainly would be a pro- 
voking experience to obtain a grand idea and get it up in a 
defective mechanical way and have someone make a simple im- 
provement and reap the reward. If I could control the matter 
I would change the patent laws in this respect. I would foster 
improvement, but I would not allow the original inventor to be 
rbbbed of his just reward. I would not permit him to become 
arrogant and dictate impossible terms, but I would see to it that 
he at least got a part of his dues. If he came forward with an 
original invention he would get a patent; if another man made 
an improvement on his method I would give him a patent, sub- 
ject to a small royalty to the original inventor, and to continue 
until the original patent expired. The matter could be judged just 
as well as law cases are judged. You must duly consider the 
subjects you attempt. Don't bother with perpetual motion ; it 
would only be a toy at best. I have no faith in a non-refillable 
bottle : in all probability it would fill if it were submerged, and 
particularly if a hole were drilled in it. An idea in this line is 
to have a nickel or a dime blowed in the glass of the bottle ; the 
goods would be sold for the amount more, and the buyer would 
break the bottle to get his money back. The idea seems practical, 
at least so far as the fact that the broken bottle would be a true 
non-refillable one. Ordinarily I do not interest in those inven- 
tions that require to be demonstrated, as they are too expensive to 
introduce. The people are generally skeptical, and they have been 
so for ages. The poets of the early centuries voiced public doubt 
in verse, referring to a gun, gotten up and promoted by a stock 
company, thus : 



8 LEARX TO IXVKXT 

''A rare invention to destroy the crowd 
Of fools at home, instead of foes abroad ; 
Fear not my friends, this terrible machine, 
They're only wounded who have shares therein." 

Financial advices are all good before ten and after three. 
As a rule, don't buy stocks that are glaringly advertised : they 
are working hard to sell. Don't go in by the front door ; stocks 
of such companies can generally be bought on the outside for less 
than the advertised price and are most always too high at that. 
]\Iany, indeed, would be high at the price in counterfeit money. 
\'ast sums and much time have been lost on various patents con- 
nected with railroads, etc. Once in a great while one may suc- 
ceed. 

You should have a book and record your ideas as they occur ; 
write out enough about them to make the whole thought on the 
subject clear, and preserve it for future reference. It would be 
a splendid idea to write out descriptions of any little novelty you 
see. State all the particulars ; make your notes so that you will 
clearly understand every detail at any time you refer to them : 
get all the patent papers of small or simple novelties, etc.. that 
you can and read carefully what they say about the construction : 
note what the inventor claims. I would recommend the Patent 
Office Gazette. This, I am sure, will prove the most valuable 
exercise you can take. They will prove practical lessons of worth 
and you will gain many helpful ideas. I recently met a gentleman 
from the South, who had taken out a patent on a hoe that was 
used extensively in the cotton fields. The blade was extra large 
and the handle was secured to the middle or central portion in a 
way that when the edge of the blade in use became worn and 
battered it could be turned and virtually form a new hoe. 

In the early days of the linotype or printing machines there 
were several machines being made and devefoped. One of the 
parties took out a patent on what they called an adjuster. It was 
simply a wedge, which was operated to spread the type and space 
the words : and though a very simple matter, it became a most 
important feature and compelled the other companies to pay a 
royalty for its use. 

I think it will be found a very valuable point to carefully 
consider the subject before you rush into developing an inven- 
tion. ]\Iany things can be done, viewed as a mere mechanical 
possibility, but circumstances may preclude their use. A party 
labored on the idea of a device to perforate postage stamps in the 



LEARN TO INVENT 9 

operation of canceling them. The thought finally occurred to him 
to use sand in the mucilage, so that when the stamp was struck in 
the usual canceling operation the sand would cut through it. I am 
informed that he wrote to the Postoffice Department at Washing- 
ton. In their reply they stated that the sand would also cut the 
envelope. If I desired to work on that idea I would first aim to 
print the stamps with a color that would turn after it was can- 
celed in the usual way, using, perhaps, some acid in the canceling 
ink, or I would work on the lines of a cancel to tear an embossed 
stamp, but I don't think the subject worth while. I prefer articles 
that sell to the many. "Little and often fills the purse." 

All inventions originate in thought, which is often due to 
casual observance. We see a man stoop on the street, pick up a 
straw or splint and run it in the pipe stem. We begin to think. 
His pipe became clogged ; it did not draw freely ; he was lucky to 
find the straw ; he might not always find one so readily. It is an 
idea to provide for such emergency so that he will not have to de- 
pend on the chance straw — something convenient; let me see — 
suppose we take a fine wire, double and twist it, leaving a small 
ring at one end. He could put it in the pipe-stem and leave it 
there ; it would not be large enough to close the draft. If the stem 
became stopped he could pull the wire out, clean and replace it. 
Now, we observed, thought obtained an idea and constructed a 
device ; can we improve it ? We should study, ask ourselves the 
questions, Does it this? Will it that? Make a sample and test 
it, see that it meets the requirements, and you have an invention. 
Obtain a patent, have them manufactured, and put them on the 
market. 

I do not smoke at present, and certainly do not recommend 
cigarettes, but simply as an illustration of an idea : we could 
gather up tobacco stems, etc., and make them into a paper to be 
used as a wrapper in making the cigarette. It would come pretty 
near being an all-tobacco cigarette. Why not fit the inside of the 
watch case with a thin sheet revolving calendar? 

A hollow rubber ball or spring might be fitted in the heel of 
the shoe to make walking more comfortable. 

An instrument to write with, fitted so that a ball passing over 
the paper would leave the mark or ink'. It would not scratch and 
would wear longer than a gross of pens. 

Bicycles may have seen their day; I often thought an auto- 
matic pump could be arranged to keep them in prime condition. 

Possibly a leather paint could be made to paint the soles of 



lo LEARX TO INVENT 

one's shoes, to make them wear longer. 

The governor on an engine is a simple idea ; its function is to 
control — by its use the engine is regulated. If the latter is oper- 
ating a dozen machines it is exerting a certain power : if, suddenly, 
ten of the machines were stopped, the power would run the en- 
gine at a terrific rate of speed; the governor rises and shuts off 
the power, and thus controls the engine. 

The safety valve on the boiler is also ver)' simple : it con- 
trols the steam pressure, allowing it to escape when it becomes too 
great. 

The wood or cold handle sad iron is exceedingly simple and 
astonishingly profitable. 

The IMorse alphabet, used in telegraphing, was rather on the 
puzzle order, and quite easy at that. 

Argand had gotten up his lamp with a circular wick, in a 
tube, the air thus supplying oxygen from within and without. 
It was a success ; his child brother playfully set a broken flask 
over the flame, which was greatly improved thereby. The practi- 
cal eye of the elder Argand enabled him to note the birth of lamp 
chimneys. 

The four wire prongs to hold chimneys on lamps were crude, 
simple, and very profitable. 

A good fender for trolley cars should be made so that it could 
be projected in front of the car, or drawn in within the line of the 
car, bov\"-shaped in front and governed by springs, so that it would 
yield when striking a person. 

A mechanism might be arranged to show the next station or 
street on a sign in the car. It could be operated by power taken 
from the axle, though the slipping of the wheels would be bother- 
some. 

The flying machine is a little too much of a wild fancy for me ; 
it would do for some fellow who wants to get oil the earth. "It's 
me for the simple life." 

]\Ien chew their cigars so much in smoking; it don't look a 
bit neat ; an oiled paper end might be worked on under the wrap- 
per to help the matter. 

For cheap, machine made cigars, a toothpick might be worked 
in, to be pulled out before lighting, to improve the draft. 

"Please shut the door" became a very common saying; 
finally it attracted the inventor's attention. A rope, pullev and 
weight may have been first ; then springs ordinarily applied came, 
finally the spring was placed in the hinge and later still the spring 



LEARN TO INVENT ii 

and air cushion were combined. It closes the door and prevents 
it from slamming. 

I believe in keeping fairly quiet about ideas I am working on. 
But don't spend your money for a patent too quickly. Many times 
patents are taken out, and instead of any danger of someone 
stealing them, they can't be coax'^d to buy at mere cost. Unless 
it is really an important idea, it pays to get them made and see 
if they will sell before you take out a patent. 

In your notebook where you keep a record of novelties and 
your ideas, from time to time, don't fail to record all costs you 
can learn of and where different things can be made — the more 
particular you are about these maters, the more you will improve 
your ideas and ability to properly promote them. Much vexation 
and lost time can be avoided in geting up inventions by being ex- 
act. "Slipshod" won't do. It defeats many perfectly practical 
ideas. The parts of a machine must be shaped and fitted to a 
nicety; "whatever is worth doing at all is worth doing well." 

It seems to me there is no end to improvement. I heard of 
a Yankee who was traveling in England. He was somewhat of 
a blower ; no matter what he saw or heard of he claimed they had 
the same thing in America much more improved. The English- 
men could not stand it, so they thought they would get the best 
of the Yankee. They told him of a wonderful machine, the most 
complete ever built. A hog was driven in at one end and came 
out a cooked sausage at the other. The Yankee took it calmly 
and said yes, they had it in America, but it was a failure until 
a fellow- Yankee improved it. "Improve it? a complete machine 
like that? why, impossible." "Well," said the Yankee, "he put an 
attachment on so that if you did not like the sausage you simply 
reversed the machine and the hog walked out again." 

Next to the simple or single idea patents : I think the improve- 
ments follow, and indeed many of them are exceedingly simple. 
It is all right to improve old patents and new ones, when the im- 
provement has real merit. I want to take you over an improve- 
ment I had patented. I secured an old trick, in the form of a tin 
box three inches long, having a cap at each end. A cent would be 
dropped in through an opening in the top. The central portion 
was double, the outer sleeve was loose and could be pushed up and 
down; a slot in its side hid by the cap would register, when 
pushed up. with a slot in the inner part; by tilting the box the 
cent would drop through these slots into the hand. Then the 
loose sleeve had to be worked back into position so that the cap 



12 LEARN TO INVENT 

hid the slot. The operation was slow and somewhat difficult. 
It occurred to me to make the box of wood and provide it with a 
slanting bottom on the inside. This would lead the cent right 
up to the slot, and it would come out without tilting the box ; 
also by using a spring it became automatic, i. e., the spring would 
push it back into position. 

The trick can be done at least five times while it is done 
once with the tin box. It made an Ai trick box. It would be 
a good seller on the street, but in stores they would forget how 
to work it, and stores can't spare the time to demonstrate, so it 
did not go well in stores. The boxes were made complete for 
$4.50 per gross, sold to jobbers at $7 and to retailers at $9. They 
retailed at 10 cents. They were made on a lathe and nicely 
polished, packed one dozen in a box. I think in nine cases out 
of ten it is best to contract with some good firm to make the 
device. You will have plenty to do selling it. You can easily 
get some one to make the goods, but it is not so easy to get one 
who can sell them and push them properly. I tried manufactur- 
ing and don't like it. 

Ideas are common and belong to all. 
The methods to the first should fall. 

As a matter of fact, you can't patent an idea. You patent 
the method, or device. Some patents may perforce virtually cover 
the idea as a consequence of there being no alternative. A needle 
for machines with the eye in the point, the wedge adjuster in 
the linotype machines. Patents of that class, when good, are extra 
valuable, because they can't be improved. We also can sometimes 
make an article in common use by a patented machine and have 
a very secure thing. I think wire nails come under this head. 
Speaking of wire calls to mind the key ring ; many millions have 
been sold. 

Possibly a brake could be made in the form of a wedge 
suspended in front of the wheel by a chain in a way that it could 
be moved so that the wheel would run on it and thus stop the 
vehicle. 

I don't know the particulars, and so I only speak in a general 
way. A patent was procured on a knife with an irregular or 
sawlike edge. It was recommended to cut bread, cake, etc. ; 
could cut without much downward pressure, which made the 
bread, etc., soggy. Probably a good thing. A party patented an 
improvement, making his knife with a wave edge for the same 
purpose. Well, I would have compelled No. 2 to pay No. i a 



I.EARN TO INVENT 13 

small royalty. 

Have you ever seen the little tugboats doing their work, 
taking the big ships into dock? Do you know how they steer? 
They have a propeller close up to the stern; just beyond is the 
rudder. Both are in line with the centre. The turning of the pro- 
peller throws a strong current past both sides of the rudder and 
away from the tug. By turning the rudder so that the current 
strikes it the vessel is forced around; it acts as though pivoted 
in the centre, the ends going in opposite directions. In the early 
days they tried to move the vessel by blowing wind against the 
sails with a bellows stationed on the vessel. They overlooked 
the reaction, and were surprised that the vessel did not move. 

Can you construct a box having a drawer so arranged that 
you could put an object in it, close and open it and have the 
object disappear? 

I frequently meet the gentleman who got up the "Donkey 
Party." It certainly was amusing. The fifteen puzzle took the 
country by storm. Pigs in Clover was great, but too many imi- 
tations. The idea of printing animals on calico, so that they could 
be cut, sewed and stuffed at home was no doubt profitable. 

It was clever to shape the crackers like the oysters. An 
Elephant or Teddy Bears brand of popcorn might take. The 
old sand box toys took well. They operated mechanical figures 
on the hour glass principle. Millions of little wire hooks have 
been sold to hang things on Christmas trees. A simple device to 
revolve the tree should sell well. A small generative battery could 
electric light the tree. It injures the showcase to drop the money 
on it, and at times it is difficult to pick up the change. The little 
porcupine-like rubber mat is handy. The cigar cutter is all 
right. A revolving needle might be used to improve the draft 
of the improperly made cigars; it would be more practical than 
the porus olastcrs frequently recommended on the back of the 
head for the same purpose, 

I guess the hen, in her quill, has us all beat on toothpicks. 
A man who built a large stack at his mill to get a better draft 
for the fire had an eight-inch pipe leading from the fireplace. It 
met an obstruction and was divided into two four-inch pipes, 
one going on either side of the obstruction and thence to the stack. 
When the work was completed the fire did no better than before. 
The builder was much disappointed and puzzled. He could not 
understand it. Can you observe what was the matter ? It should 
be apparent at a glance. He shut off half of the draft. An eight- 



14 LEARX TO INVENT 

inch pipe is equal to four four-inch pipes. To observe you must 
observe. Why do people read fiction? A lady was annoyed by 
her hair coming down. She finally bent the hairpin. Her hus- 
band patented the idea and they made a fortune. The idea of a 
paragon frame for umbrellas proved a mint. Rubber dress shields, 
lined, made thousands. It is said wooden shoepegs paid mil- 
lions. "Truth is stranger than fiction." 

Toy guns are pretty old, and mama had always been nervous 
over the arrows, caps, etc. I patented the harmless gun in 
1883 — had it fire a hollow rubber ball. I supplied the trade for 
twelve years, and then sold the patent for $1,200. The invention 
has paid in all probably $50,000, and the guns are for sale in the 
stores as usual. In fact, all that my patent covered was the idea 
of a string made fast to the rear of the plunger and extending 
back to the outside, on the bottom edge of the stock, so that the 
spring or plunger could be pulled back into position, instead of 
using a ramrod to push it back, as in other toy guns. Perfecting 
the details of this gun called for much more study than did taking 
out the patent. At first the end of the plunger rod would wedge 
in the barrel on striking the hollow ball. The end of the plunger 
was flat, a very small portion of the ball touched it, and hence 
would naturally dent and wedge. It was remedied by making the 
end of the plunger concave, so that in striking the ball it would 
come in contact with a greater surface and not dent. The point 
where the string, which was pulled to set the spring, came out 
of the stock, would split out, and we could not satisfactorily 
fasten on a brass plate with an eyeletted hole. This was over- 
come by boring the hole large and gluing in a round piece with 
a hole through the centre. It was then cut down in the sand- 
papering, and was quite unnoticeable. It worked like a charm. 
It was difficult to get the hollow rubber balls at a low cost : two 
cents each was quoted. They took a square piece of thin rubber, 
pinched it up with the fingers, put somxc water in, then put cement 
on the edges, placed it in an iron mold and put it in the furnace. 
The water turned to steam and forced the rubber in the shape 
of the mould ; the vulcanizing would cause it to stay in position, 
but many would leak and not shape right. The process was im- 
proved by using tubing cut proper length and pieces punched out 
of a flat sheet to fit over the ends. It was a success, and few 
ever failed to properly shape. One gross was made at a time. 
They cost less than one cent each. For a while $15 per thousand 
was the best price quoted for the brass eagles used on the stock 



LEARN TO INVENT 15 

for ornament. These were finally secured at $6, and a number of 
hundred thousand were used. Seven small wood turnings were 
used in each gun. The first lot of one thousand of these turnings 
cost $7.50. They were made on a lathe by hand. Then they 
were secured at $2.50 per thousand, done by machine, and finally 
they were contracted at 70 cents per thousand. A paper tube, 
painted and silver bronzed, made a good barrel. I thought these 
details might interest. They are ''all wool and a yard wide." 
"One fact is worth a book full of theories." 

Toys present a good field for inventors. They pay well 
usually, and are easy to handle. You must hold your prices firmly ; 
treat all jobbers alike, no matter whether they buy one or one 
hundred gross. If you favor one you offend all the rest. Be 
impartial. Cities are growing so large, rents are soaring so high 
and store space seem.s to be getting so crowded, possibly a fixture 
of store shelfs could be arranged on the Ferris Wheel plan and 
put into position above the counter to help the situation. 

Mucilage evaporates so fast. They have fountain pens. Can 
any of you get up a fountain mucilage pen or brush? I guess 
we are a little late for ink bottles and spittoons that won't spill 
the contents upon upsetting. A thought in mind seems to con- 
stantly annoy. Readers, no doubt, if they have the patience to 
read the w^hole of this pamphlet, will possibly wonder what it is 
all about. Well, they need not ponder. The student who is alive 
to the subject Avill understand; he will take the time and allow 
his thoughts to dwell on each little subject m.entioned. I believe 
in as much original gray matter "horse sense" and facts as cir- 
cumstances permit, that ever}^ time you bump up against it you 
find something out. "Sabe." 

Have you ever studied the philosophy of trains going around 
curves. The wheels have a flange on one side and taper to the 
other side. They stand on the track with the flange on the in- 
side. When they come to the curve, in which the outside rail is 
always set higher than the inside one, and is necessarily longer, 
the flange presses against it, and that wheel is running on its 
largest diameter while the opposite wheel is on its smallest diam- 
eter. This fact, together with the slipping, enables the outside 
wheel to go over a greater length of rail than the inside w^ieel, 
though both are secured rigidly to the same axle. The train has 
a tendency to go straight ahead; the outside rail being higher 
causes it to constantly slip a little. The bent rail keeps prying 
the flange over, as it were, and the train is brought around the 



/ 



I 6 LEARN TO INVENT 

curve safely. 

Sometimes it pa3^s to learn some things not generally con- 
sidered as being immediately connected with one's regular calling. 
I heard of a noted Chinese doctor who had a very bright son who 
was studying medicine at college. An epidemic set in, the doctor 
was sent for and went from one case to another. He was quite 
an athlete and a good swimmer. Soon the village people con- 
cluded the doctor was the cause of all the sickness and decided 
to thrash him. The doctor ran for his life, the crowd close on 
his heels. Finally he came to a river, plunged in and swam to the 
opposite side. No one in the crowd could swim — the doctor was 
safe. He went home and the bright young son answered the 
door and said, "Father, I need the money for some books at col- 
lege the teacher recommends." The father's mind was full of 
thought of the experience he had just gone through, and he said, 
"My son, with due respect to your teacher, I advise that you first 
learn to swim ; it may some day be more important than any of 
your studies." 

Don't be an idle spectator of life, 

Create splendor for others' view. 
Do I think ladies could invent? Well, at the present mo- 
ment I feel like saying most decidedly yes. Why, you yourself 
made a splendid observation. Don't you recall saying the horses 
lost a great portion of their food by tossing their heads about 
while eating? Well, yes, the flies are annoying, but I think there 
is another reason. Well, you see they strap the full feed bag to 
the horse's head. At first the adjustment is good enough, but as 
the horse eats the surface of the food recedes and soon the adjust- 
ment becomes bad. The horse can no longer reach the food, and 
tosses his head about in an effort to get it. Well, we observed, 
thought, and as a consequence have a problem to work out. Yes, 
I think we might overcome the difficulty. Why, exactly, splendid ; 
we can properly adjust the springs and fasten them in the handle 
or hanging straps that hold the feed bag to the horse. Then, as 
he eats and the weight becomes less, the springs will cause the 
bag to rise and the adjustment will be proper throughout. Yes, 
that is a real invention. We are inventors. We will use a per- 
forated bag. Why, I think we might call it "The Automatic 
Ventilated Feed Bag." The horse will thank us, and we will be- 
come so rich. Salt cellars don't work good in damp weather — the 
salt cakes. You should work out that problem by the "Think a 
little" rule. A flagpole to operate the flag on the principle of the 



LEARN TO INVENT 17 

spring roller window curtain ; make the political banner collapsible. 
Pass tops by, too many already ; besides I have been sore on them 
since youth, when I tried to make one to wind up with a key and 
run all day. It was a long time before I replaced my watch, the 
works of which I used in that top. Did it spin? "Nope." Pos- 
tage stamp affixer. No, pass it. It may do later on when you 
are more experienced. I had some dealings with a simple kind : 
it looked and worked like a rubber stamp, but the moisture from 
the sponge soon got in among the stamps — impractical. It should 
be quite easy to make a chute wagon that would unload coal 
while standing lengthwise along the curb, so as not to block the 
cars. 

Suppose you wish to cause a toy man to pass around a six- 
inch circle and at the same time constantly revolve, could 3^ou 
contrive to make it work by turning a crank? It is good prac- 
tice to work all puzzles and problems you find. It cultivates 
reasoning and gives you splendid practice on concentrating 
your thought. It makes you a close observer and becomes a 
valuable asset for use in any walk of life. Some people don't 
seem to notice anything — or, at least, very few things. I one time 
had an amusing debate with a man. He insisted he moved his 
upper jaw in eating. He proved it conclusively to himself by 
biting on his finger. How many of you know the difiference 
between a horse and a cow in getting up? I hope a half dozen 
dozen and six dozen dozen don't look alike to you. You must 
get things exactly as they are in your mind ; then only will you 
have a true basis to reason from. Don't go through life with 
the idea that everything is "about the size of a piece of chalk." 

]\Iany people will say to those who invent, "How did you 
come to think of it? I could never think of anything." The main 
trouble is they don't think at all. If they would take an interest 
in things and examine them closely, study them until they can 
clearly explain every detail, it would be a reasonably short time 
until they would think of other things and invent. The inventor 
should be sanguine and hopeful. It spurs him on and helps him 
to wade through discouragement. Possibly as like produces hke, 
like thoughts produce like thoughts, fear thoughts produce fear 
thoughts. You must have a little of the big I in you. 
"He who dares assert the I 
May calmly wait, while hurrying fate 
Meets his demands with sure supply." 

I don't mean that you should sit down and expect to invent 



i8 I.KARN TO INVENT 

b}^ mere weight of thought. That would be Hke watching the 
clock to see the hour pass by. I mean 3'ou should make the start. 
Begin by noticing how things are done. Interest your thoughts on 
• the subject. Keep the matter in mind. Time will pass by pleasantly 
and some morning you will find your mind engrossed with an 
idea of an invention or an improvement on one, and that day will 
appear the brightest in your life. The more you study over what 
others have done, the sooner you will do something yourself. I 
fear you won't study.' Now let me see; take that trick box. In 
No I they tilted the box to get the cent out. Well, by tilting the 
box they simply put the flat bottom on a slant and the cent slid 
out. That could be improved in working by making a slanting 
bottom. Again, in No. i, after they worked the outer sleeve up 
so that the openings registered and allowed the cent to slide out, 
they then worked the outer sleeve back into position, so that the 
side of the cap hid the slot. That work could be saved by insert- 
ing a spring, and so you should take up each feature, learn the 
reason why, and impress it on your mind. Confine yourself to 
the very simple things. Later on you will take interest in the 
larger ones, but at first they would likely discourage you, though 
the large inventions are only a combination of simple ideas. The 
telegraph sounds big. In the first place, it was simply a discovery. 
The electric current magnetized the wire so that it attracted 
metal, and would do so no matter how long the wire (within 
reason). Now, they could not well arrange to move the magnet 
over the paper to do the writing, so they thought to make it sta- 
tionary and move the paper. The machine to do this was the 
biggest part of the invention. The code or Morse alphabet fol- 
lowed, by arranging the dots and dashes to represent the letters. 
If a massive structure were built of bricks, broad, high walls, 
scjuare and round towers, high, commanding, arched doorway, 
facades, ledges, etc., you would stand and gaze in bewildering 
admiration at the grand, colossal structure. Yet it is only a 
combination of bricks. And what are bricks, pray? Only clay 
molded into shape and baked in an oven. No man ever invented 
a great machine unless he was an adept in the line of simple 
things, or he engaged, assistance from those who were. Don't 
underrate the importance of these simple ideas. Take each one 
up, consider and go over it as carefully as though it were new — 
your own thought — and as though you were going to apply for 
a patent on it. If you can't enthuse and work or study in earnest 
on these matters you are surely on the wrong line for you. Get 



LEARN TO INVENT 19 

off and devote your time to some other pursuit. You must be in 
earnest and willling to persevere. Keep everlastingly at it. 
Dabblers rarely ever succeed at anything. I saw a patented churn. 
It was a plain tank and a long round handle with propeller 
blades set on the end. The propeller was pushed down through 
the cream. It did not revolve, and hence agitated the cream very 
much. Then, when it was pulled up to the top, the propeller 
revolved and the cream was scarcely moved. In going down the 
propeller would move up about one inch and lock. In pulling up 
it would move back and unlock. I remember the man who 
patented an iron ore washer. It was a large tank affair, say 
eight feet long, three feet at one end and six feet at the other. 
Inside it was lined with iron plates having a flange projecting 
upward. These were fastened so that the flanges formed a spiral 
from the large to the small end. An axle was placed in the 
centre by braces. The large end almost touched the ground; 
the small end was, say, two feet above the ground. The ore 
dirt was shoveled in the big end. A stream of water entered 
the small end. The washer was revolved. The dirt ran out with 
the water. The ore was worked by the flanges up to and fell out 
of the small end.^ I met a party who had a patented bung for 
barrels. It looked like a straight piece of round wood. I inquired, 
what is the patent. He said, bungs blow out of barrels, but his 
would not, because it was first made larger at one end than the 
other, then by driving it through a tube, it was forced equal at 
each end. The original big end was marked and put in the bung 
hole. The liquid would cause it to swell to its former size. It 
could not blow out, and to tap the barrel it was driven in. The 
shores of Lake Superior are full of fine iron ore, probably 
millions of dollars worth. A party got up an electrical separator. 
To reclaim the iron sounds big. Let us see. An iron cylinder, 
an electrical battery or dynamo to charge and magnetize it, a long 
trough with a moving belt in the bottom. The sand and fine iron 
were shoveled on the belt and carried up to and fell on one side 
of the revolving magnetized cylinder. The iron adhered, and 
as the separator revolved it was scraped off on the other side. 
Some ten years ago I wrote to a number of chewing gum firms 
and proposed they make sugar-coated tablets. They did not 
enthuse and I dropped the matter. To-day it forms quite a busi- 
ness. About twenty-five years ago I proposed to put India-rubber 
along the water line of war ships, so that when struck the hole 
would close and prevent the water going in. To-day every war 



20 LEARN TO INVENT 

ship is equipped with that idea, using cellulose instead of rubber. 
So, don't give up your ideas too quickly. Become well convinced 
before you drop them. During the past month I read an article 
stating that the railroads required a heavier rail. I thought the 
added weight might be used to make the rail alike top and bot- 
tom — a double rail — so that when one side wore out the rail could 
be turned and virtually have a new one, and it being on the 
ground would save the handling in the second case. A special 
shoe would secure it to the tie. First costs are often increased 
to get economic results. I simply advance the idea. Any one 
interested can put it in their pipe and smoke it. If any of you 
use a rubber ball in the heel of the shoe to make walking comfort- 
able you may be able to fit a small tube and have it arranged to 
ventilate the toe of the shoe. A party made a horseshoe having 
a toe piece of three parts. The centre was very hard steel; the 
outsides were soft. They wore down and the hard centre stuck 
up. It was always sharp. He said the blacksmiths would not 
handle them because it hurt their business. 

It always seemed a good idea to make a wheel so that the 
spokes formed a hub at the centre. If all the people were alive 
to their needs all hats would be ventilated. The corrigated band 
is a good idea, as far as it goes. It should be supplemented with 
vents in sides or top. Do you know they paint ships without 
brushes? Simply spray it on with an atomizer and sweep with 
a suction hose. I hope it will be after my day when some of you 
get up a machine to do the eating. A cannon was mounted with 
mechanism to absorb the recoil and other service. A hole was 
drilled through the side of the cannon about one foot from the 
end or muzzle. A tube was fitted and extended rearward to the 
mechanism. AMien the cannon was fired the pressure became 
very great in the chamber, and the instant the projectile passed 
the drilled hole, and until it left the gun, this high pressure or 
power went through the tube and worked the mechanism at the 
rear of the gun. I know hoopskirts are long out of style. Could 
a flexible metal band be arranged at the bottom of pants and end 
of coat sleeves, so that they need not be sewed and could be 
worked to shorten or lengthen them, as desired? 

I saw a funnel that had a wire rod running down to the 
small end. A ball on the end of the rod was used to close or open 
the funnel. AMien the bottle v\^as full you could close the funnel, 
and no more would run out of it. I don't think there is a good 
nutmeg grater on the market. The price at retail should not be 



I^EARN TO INVENT 21 

above 10 cents. It should have a good appearance, convenient 
and practical. It should all be enclosed, fly proof and dust proof — 
a sanitary grater. There is a chance to improve a match box to 
hang on the wall, something that won't show the marks. You 
should be alive to the difference between goods being on sale at 
stores and taking hold of a specialty and pushing it. 

Sometimes the horses are driven with slack lines, and shy 
or scare suddenly. Often the driver is bothered to take up the 
slack. Could you invent handles to put on the lines that could 
be moved forward easily, hav.e them grip so not to slip back 
until a spring or catch released them? I don't understand why 
they don't connect the shafts to the vehicle so that they could be 
instantly disconnected in case the horse ran away. 

They sell a number of popcorn roasters. One to revolve 
should prove a good seller. The shaking plan is very tiresome. 
Some arrangement should be put on the bootblack boy's box to 
prevent the foot from slipping off. A propeller rocket could be 
made to go very high. Could you make a metal frame that any 
one, by using a strong manila paper, could make a pocketbook to 
hold notes, bills, etc. ? How do you like a wire device to be put 
on rolls of ribbon to keep them from unwinding in the retail 
stores? A watch might be made so that the opening and closing 
of the lid would keep it wound up. I have not been inside a 
school for a long time. Perhaps they have holders to prevent 
the chalk crayons from breaking. 

Did you ever cut a round piece of cardboard in a strip, say 
one-half inch wide, cutting round and round to the centre, then 
set it on a knitting needle, place it over the stove and see it turn ? 
The heat from a small wax candle should turn a Christmas tree 
lamp on the same principle. Now they make wood lead pencils 
that require no sharpening. The lead is loose. A slot down 
the side of the pencil enables one to advance the lead as required. 
Elections call forth many ideas as to the best form of balloting. 
I think a very safe form of voting would be to have two large 
iron boxes with mechanism and a long roll of paper, proper width, 
with the ballots printed on it : ^ flat space or table between the 
boxes ; the long paper tape of ballots would be wound up on a 
roller in one box and unwound into the other, the ballots to be 
numbered consecutively. A voter steps up and proves his right 
to vote; then he marks his vote on ballot No. i, which shows 
on the flat place between the boxes. The judges then turn a 
crank. That ballot moves into the other box and the next adjoin- 



22 LEARN TO INVENT 

ing ballot appears on the flat place. Such a plan would be free 
from stuffing, and ought to give reasonable satisfaction. The 
various styles of folding boxes are good illustrations of the single 
idea inventions. Many flourishing concerns are based on same. 
To be an inventor one should be a close observer. They should 
make sure of just what they see. I heard of a business man who 
had a very valuable horse. He left particular orders that great 
care should be taken and see that the horse did not get loose and 
go in the new clover field. He went off to his business, some 
distance away, and soon a neighbor came at top speed and said, 
"Your horse is in the clover field." The business man left his 
office in great haste and ran home, where he found the horse in 
the stable where he had left him. The cow had been put in the 
clover field. The neighbor said he did not look so very close. 
He saw an animal in the field. It seemed to have four corners, 
wdth a leg from each corner to the ground, and thought it might 
be the horse. He wouldn't make an inventor — ''A left-over in 
the process of nature's selection." A device to turn the sheets 
of music for piano players should be worthy of study. Some 
one ought to get up a paste that could be put in a tooth and 
adhere. It should become hard and be lasting. Most anything 
to obviate the barbarous riveting process. 

Has it ever occurred to you the vast amount of waste going 
on in putting up goods in tin packages ? It presents a great field 
for invention of the simple "lucky" kind. The person who hits 
the right thing will become vastly wealthy. Try to devise a 
shape of package that will answer and be useful after it is 
emptied. Now, simply to illustrate the idea, say we put tomatoes 
up in a tin cup with a lid that would serve as a cake cutter. Nice 
little buckets might answer. Smoking tobacco packages ought 
to answer for match boxes to hang on the wall. Come, now, 
there is a fortune waiting. Who among the students will be first 
to claim it? Nothing would please me more than to hear of some 
one or more of you making a hit. Think. "He who would eat 
the nut must crack it." 

Some people think there have been so many patents taken 
out already there is no chance to get up any more. The truth is. 
no doubt, the chances are on the increase. New sciences are 
being developed, as for instance, electricity, and each new machine 
turns out work that enables the inventor to do something he could 
not well do before. Machinery now will shape wire to any 
required form ; castings are greatly improved ; wood turnings 



LEARN TO INVENT 23 

are cheap and in almost every imaginable shape. The inventor 
of to-day has almost every possible detail want at hand, and so 
he can undertake things heretofore out of reach. Naturally, as 
the country grows things come into demand that were not worth 
while before. Indeed, from every point of view the field seems 
to broaden. 

Suppose a two-inch tube has a one-inch hole through the 
side. It is desired to cover the hole with a band, so arranged 
that when the band is turned it will revolve a rod inside of the 
tube. Can you reason how to do it? Grates used under boilers 
for steam purposes expand when heated. When cast in one 
piece the bars warp and soon wear out. A grate was patented 
made in pieces ; each single bar was loose ; due allowance was 
made for expansion. They are oval on top, broad and tapering. 
They do not warp. The space between the bars widened towards 
the bottom, hence the ashes would not clog. Draw an end view 
of such bars; the idea will show plainly. I favor drawing to 
impress thought. The matter rests with yourself. "You can 
lead a horse to water, but you cannot make him drink." 

Since so simple a device as an air cushion will render the 
fall of an elevator harmless, there should be something doing 
with trains of cars. No telescoping. Who will quiet the aw^ful 
noise of the trolley car, particularly in cities? Overhead they 
m.ight slide the cars to advantage, using a cog motor on third 
rail. Method is a species of invention. It lends force to action. 

W^hat day of the week was March 20, 1886? 

1. 86 — The last two figures of the date. 

2. 21— Take one-fourth; don't use fractions. 

3. 20 — The day of the month. 

4. 6 — Ratio ; see table below. 



5- 7/133— Divide by 7. 



19 and no rem. ; Sat., i rem. ; Sun., 2 rem. ; Mon., 
etc. 
Table of ratio, 366240251361, being a figure for each month, 
beginning January 3, etc. 

Now. I wish you to practice this method to memorize the 
table of ratio : 

1. Please remember 3. 

2. Think double double, and you have 6 6. .366 

3. It is 240,000 miles to the moon 240 



24 LEARN TO INVENT 

4. Add II to the unit side 251 

5. Add II to the hundred side 361 

You should get that in a minute. 

For dates in the 20th century add 5 before dividing by 7. 
For leap years make the ratio for January and February one 
less than in the table. 

Try this for the Presidents 
Washington Jackson 

Adams Adams 

Jefferson Monroe 

Madison 

V^ A^ J - M - M J^ J 

Van Buren and Harrison 
T-yler Polk and Taylor 

Fillmore Pierce Buchanan 

Lincoln Johnson Grant 

Ha3"es ^ Garfield and Arthur 

Cleveland Harrison Cleveland 

Mc Kinle}-' and Roosevelt 
Read across the page. Begin with the seven large initials, 
they will soon impress on the mind, then get the names they 
stand for. Then simply remember Van Buren and Harrison, the 
remainder in the form given across the page have a sort of a sing 
song that soon grows fast. 

Incidentalh^ learn the given names. 

AA'-hen we look at the watch we must make a mental calcula- 
tion to state the time. I heard of a watch that had three circular 
openings in the front case, one on each side and one on the bot- 
tom ; the latter showed the second hand. The one on the left 
showed the hour, and on the right the number of minutes past the 
hour were shown. If it were twenty minutes past ten we would 
see ten and twenty. There was no mental calculation required. 
No doubt you have all seen the little egg separator, a circular 
piece of sheet metal having a concave centre with little slots near 
the top of the concave portion. It is placed on a cup. The egg 
broken and contents placed in the separator, the white runs 
through the slots into the cup and the yolk remains in the sepa- 
rator. 

A good ink tablet should be a good thing. They certainly 
would be a great convenience, and should do for fountain pens 
too. I have often thoue^ht that chairs are not made rio-ht. \Mien 



LEARN TO INVENT 25 

you lean back the front part of the seat rises and it tends to 
stop circulation in the limbs. Could the seat part be so hinged 
or arranged that the front portion would not rise, or would it 
answer to simply have the back hinged? 

The stem wind on the watch was a very simple thought, and 
should have been forced on the mJnd every time the key was lost. 
"Necessity is the mother of invention." 

I advise all who have any idea of inventing to practice draw- 
ing. It is an excellent practice and makes one a close observer. 
In thinking of subjects combining several movements or features 
the drawing clinches them ; oftentimes the idea will slip the mind, 
and puzzle as we will we cari't recall it at the desired time. "Now 
you shall wish, but wish in vain to call the fleeting words again." 
When you draw it it is there. You can leave it and take up any 
part you wish to consider. There is a lot of- studying to do to 
equip yourself well for inventing. The better you are .equipped 
the better your chances. But you should look upon the work as' 
a pleasure. Then each thing you learn will please. I don't believe 
in scolding the learning into people. We should aim to make 
learning pleasant and agreeable. I know J:he subject is dry to 
many. I don't wish to weary, remember. . 

"It's pennies for labor and dollars for thought." 

A contractor was building a pier at the seashore. When he 
tried to drive the piles down into the sand they would continually 
bounce up. He became very much discouraged ; he was com- 
pletely puzzled. It baffled his wits. A gentleman from the West 
was visiting at the resort. He became very deeply interested in 
the little clams. He was amused to see how quickly they could 
go down in the sand. He visited the pier and learned of the con- 
tractor's troubles. He sought him and advised that a hose be 
attached to the pile and force a stream of water ahead of it as 
it was driven down. The idea worked very satisfactorily. Obser- 
vation. Yes, ideas are good things. A cow had fallen in a well 
that was being dug. The neighbors gathered about the well, 
which was ten feet deep. No one could suggest a means to 
rescue the cow. An old darkey passing by was attracted by the 
crowd. He looked down into the well and saw the cow appar- 
ently unhurt. He said, "Let's git her out." "How?" they sang 
in chorus. "Why, jist shovel de sand back inter de well; she'll 
keep on top." 

During the siege of Paris they wrote letters and reduced 
them in size until they looked like mere dots to the naked eve. 



26 LEARX TO INVENT 

They were then sent out on pigeons and magnified to the original 
size. That is possibly the basis of a freak thought. Suppose a 
$1 bill was placed on a hillside ; we go a distance away and take 
a photograph of one mile square of the hillside, having the bill 
exactly in the centre. Say the photograph is one foot square. 
Now we cut ofif one and three-quarter inches all the wa^^ around 
the picture, leaving say one-half of the sanie. Then we enlarge 
this to one foot square and repeat until the foot square picture 
shows say ten feet square of hillside with the bill in plain view 
in the centre. If that could be done we could examine the moon 
and planets too, very closely. 

"One science only can one genius fit, . 
So vast is art, so narrow human wit." 

Probably the most uncertain feature of a majority of patents 
is, will the people buy them? The theory of most patents is 
plausible enough. But often the practice or fact is very doubtful. 
The public seem to be whimsical and act as the spirit moves 
them, oftentimes without rhyme or reason ; things become a fad 
or are turned down. They spring up and die like a flower. There 
is no rule. You must take your chance. It is a natural stumbling 
block. You must be sanguine to invent and cautious to keep ofif 
of wrong leads. Take the matter philosophically. Don't allow 
it to irritate. You can counsel with practical people and those 
whom you expect to use your device. Feel your way the best 
you can. When ready, take your plunge, and be satisfied to settle 
the matter, either as a success or failure. If the latter, make 
your bow, ''Nor with weight of words offend the ear." 

There seems to be no rule ; they come and go. The first time 
I saw a match with the handle end fire proofed, so not to burn 
the finger^, it looked good. I thought all matches would be made 
that way. Now I scarcely ever see one. 

The little brass-like boxes with a spring lid and about sixty 
matches, all for one cent at retail, tells the story of cheap labor 
by machinery. I saw a match box in the form of a house. The 
low chimney in the centre of the roof was as long as a match 
and very narrow ; a fiat piece with a gutter in the top edge filled 
the inside of the chimney. The house would be pulled up and 
then pushed down ; always a match would be in the guttered 
end of the piece in the chimney. I did not examine it, but it no 
doubt had a slanting bottom on the inside. The piece in the 
chimney was stationary. The house would rise high enough so 
that the top of the guttered piece would be at the bottom of the 



LRARN TO INVENT 27 

slanting sides. The matches would roll over it, and one would 
lodge in the guttered top. When the house was pushed back it 
was at the top of the chimney, ready for use. It embodies an 
idea, and so I will give it. Some houses become infested with 
active insects, to the very great annoyance of the occupants. If 
you ever happen to have the occasion, put a few sheets of sticky 
fly paper on the floor at night ; place a small piece of raw meat 
in the centre of each. They will all be there in the morning. 
They hop for the meat and linger on the paper. Stop laughing 
and think. Suppose you had no sticky fly paper nor molasses, 
would you think to try a plate with water on it and the meat in 
the centre? Thinking how to substitute one plan for another is 
good exercise. Look out when you do it, or you will invent. 
The gyroscope top is certainly very peculiar in its movements. 
]t is an enigma to science. It is proposed to run a car on a single 
rail by having two gyroscopes mounted within the car. In row- 
ing a boat the position is such that the power does not continue 
in full to the extreme end of the stroke. Possibly the blade 
could be pivoted to the oar, so that at the best point in the stroke 
for the purpose it would press a spring, which would release 
itself at the end of the stroke to advantage. 

The elbow for stove pipes was a fine idea, also the spring 
rollers for window curtains. The mail box in use is good. 
Indeed, it should be quite natural for a person to enthuse. I 
patented a child's riding stick, hollow wheels at one end, horse 
head with moveable jaw at other. Can you reason how to make 
the jaw work? No doubt you rode on summer trolley cars and 
pushed up and pulled down the curtains. But do you know how 
they are constructed? The curtain is attached to a spring roller, 
and has an iron tube on the end. Two wire cords, one on either 
side of the frame, are fastened at the top. Each passes through 
the tube and is fastened again at the bottom. Thus the cords 
cross in the tube, which can be pushed up, the spring roller taking 
up the slack curtain ; or it can be pulled down, the curtain unwind- 
ing. If you will only observe closely you will see ideas carried 
out on every hand. When you come to invent the knowledge of 
them will give you confidence and help you very much. But it 
will not suflice to simply read of them. You must study, le'arn 
and impress the principle on your mind. It is learning, not read- 
ing, that counts. It has always seemed queer to me that so many 
ideas spring up and flourish for a while, then die and are for- 
o^otten. Alany good ideas for the personal benefit of the buyer 



28 LEARX TO INVENT 

don't seem to go at all. If an article pleased one generation, why 
not the next? It is so in many things and not so in man}^ others. 
Judgment is required to distinguish standard from transient. A 
life preserver, say of oiled goods, with a spring inside, flat, the 
size of a plate when operated, three feet long and able to float a 
person. Convenient fasteners for room doors with poor locks, 
burglar alarms and portable fire escapes, all worth their weight 
in gold when required. A few poles and strands of wire, an 
electrically controlled carriage and an operator would drop a life 
preserver every few feet of the bathing surface. They are all 
good subjects for the people in the troubles, but you would go to 
bed hungry trying to sell the goods. Two wire cables across the 
street from the big hotels, to operate a draw bridge, at times 
would save hundreds, as would a tunnel from amusement places. 
Steel cars would prevent the terrible fires when wrecked, and 
save many lives.^ It seems the people want something to eat, wear 
or to amuse for their money. It has been a much mooted question, 
and as it involves an idea it may not be amiss. How to make 
fire from wood : You would get very tired rubbing two pieces 
of rotten wood together. Select a dry, well-seasoned block ; nick 
or deeply dent the surface with a sharp stone. Provide an arrow- 
like stick, and a bow and string much like the bow and arrow. 
Stand the arrow-like stick in the dented surface of the block. 
The bow has the string fast at each end. -Make one wrap of the 
string around the arrow, which you steady with one hand and 
work the bow back and forth with the other. Mechanics would 
call it a fiddle drill. The arrow-like stick will turn rapidly. The 
friction will create a dust-like, fibrous mess, which will soon burn. 
Then blow and have a flame. 

]\Iake a currycomb with wire teeth : Have a sheet of metal 
proper shape perforated to receive the wire teeth, and rest at the 
bottom of the brush. After cleaning the horse pull the metal 
sheet up, thus cleaning the comb. For a window sash without 
weights follow the trolley curtain. If a stirrup had an open 
bottom, save a small cleet on each side to rest the foot on. in case 
the rider was thrown the foot would turn and come out. 

I don't believe in the strenuous life.' It is the "happy me- 
dium" that appeals to me. We must have time to think. I don't 
mean to hesitate. We should think in advance as far as possible. 
Think, so that you will know better what to do. Try not to 
become confused; act with good judgment. - A doctor was ex- 
pecting a load of hay. On returning home at noon he noticed 



I.EARN TO INVENT 29 

a load upset in front of his gate. A boy with a fork in his hands 
looked bewildered. The doctor inquired and was told the hay 
was for him. "Ah, well," he said to the boy, "come in and have 
some dinner." "Oh, indeed, sir, I can't; my father would not 
like it. I must move the hay." "Oh, yes," said the doctor, "come." 
The boy was hungry and willing, but insisted his father would 
not like it. Finally he reluctantl}' yielded. But he ate so fast the 
doctor cautioned him in vain. He would reply, "I am sure father 
won't like it." Finally the doctor asked, "Where is your father ?" 
"Why," said the boy, "he's under that load of hay." 

I noticed in a paper that the Government desired a device 
to secure packages of letters in transit from one place to an- 
other. They use string, and it costs over $200,000 per year. A 
billion of packages are tied up annually.. At first glance, con- 
sidering security, etc., I rather think a telescopic box would be 
best. But the cost, wear and tear, extra weight in freight all act 
to make the box impracticable. Indeed, if the matter is to be 
governed by cost, I advise our dear old Uncle Sam to stick to his 
string. The common shipping tag which has the washer-like 
piece of cardboard to .reinforce the tie hole is simple and good. 
It is cheap and stronger, indeed, than the metal eyelets. 

The ball and socket fastener used on gloves, suspenders and 
many other things is very good. It fell in the lap of a French- 
man. 

A great variety of fasteners to hold sheets of paper together 
have a large sale. In most all cases they aim to 'hold the paper 
without puncturing it. 

The name Uneeda was coined, tied fast to a biscuit and be- 
came famous. 

S. T. i860 X was an oldtimer. I believe it meant "sure 
thing in ten years from i860." 

I think a good ash sifter could be made with a box, say two 
by three feet, and a cylindrical sieve on an axle with a crank 
handle. The sieve to be provided with a door or lid, the ashes 
put in and the sieve revolved. The operation should be easy. 
It was a good idea to make circular zinc pieces to put under 
stoves ; also the circular pieces used in pipe holes to close them 
in summer. The little bell-shaped guards hung from tlie ceiling 
to protect it from the gas jets was good, very simple and quite 
natural. The little burners on the gas fixtures are fine. 

I met a gentleman who was blind. He took out a patent for 
.1 handlr} for a scrub bru.?h. It could be attached and detached 



30 LEARN TO INVENT 

at will. The barn doors hung on wheels on a track was a good 
job ; also the gates that open when the team approaches. The 
lawn mower was not slow. Games are a very uncertain field to 
work in, though some of the standard games have been very 
profitable. They must be gotten up in elaborate manner, and as 
a rule must be well advertised, ^lany little puzzles have paid 
well, but they are invariably greatly exaggerated. The matters 
that come under the head of copyright are, I think, a" good field 
to work in. The money success of these things depends princi- 
pally on how w^ell they are handled. There are many ways to 
make sales, many channels to work in. I am of the opinion that 
a large per cent, of inventors would do better to put their inven- 
tions out on royalty or sell. I am sure those who have invented 
will do so again and again if they are not too busily engaged 
otherwise. Hence I claim it best, generally speaking, to sell or 
place on royalty, and then invent something else. Inventing is 
really a profession — so is manufacturing. 

"Let the cobbler stick to his last." 
The strenuous life, like baby's suit, is soon outgrown. Then 
w^hat to do becomes important. I think every city of fair size in 
the country should have a trades exchange. A man or woman 
opens a store and announces they will receive goods of all de- 
scriptions to sell or exchange, give a descriptive receipt for the 
goods, charging, say ten per cent, for services, when sold or ex- 
changed. You can make a good wdiite soap for say two cents 
per pound ; put it up in one and a quarter pound cakes and sell 
direct to the consumer for five cents — give premiums for your 
wrappers. Take a contract to increase the circulation of your 
country or town paper; then visit the people, prepare an article 
on the city or town, and write up sketches of those who subscribe. 
Mail order business will pay fairly well from any point if you 
deal right. Never sell anything unless it is worth the money, and 
don't introduce any fake schemes. Get some good novelties, 
household articles, books, etc. ; select good leaders to advertise, 
and when you make a sale enclose circulars of the other goods ; 
soon you can have a catalogue. Study the papers you advertise 
in ; there are many quacks — you can tell them by the character 
of their advertising. Public catalogues soon become too common ; 
also you should handle the goods you sell. Then you can control 
the matter better. Lists of names are generally drummed too 
much before you get them. Once you begin to advertise you will 
get informed of live papers and live goods to push. 



LEARN TO INVENT 31 

For personal canvassing a clothes bar made of half-inch round 

pieces, fastened to ends in the form of an X with an inverted V 

on top ; they open and close, and will form a dryer, a basket and 

a sort of table to air a bed on. They should weigh six pounds 

and sell for $1.25; cost, say forty to fifty cents. Say a country 

weekly, single sheet, one fold, w-ants to boom the subscription 

list. Reserve suitable space, say at the double corner, for four 

pages of any book chosen. In a year they have a 208 page book. 

"Full many a gem of purest ray serene. 

The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear. 

Full many a flow^er is born to blush unseen 

And waste its sweetness on the desert air." 

Yes, the woods are full of them. The future inventions will 
rival those of the past. You should prepare and cast your net. 
If you choose '"luck" may come your way, opportunity may 
faintly knock. You should be alert, comprehend and intelligently 
pursue. You must know the form and touch, lest its presence 
be unknown. 

"Of all sad words of tongue or pen, 
The saddest are these : it might have been." 

Those who would be inventors should take up the helpful 
studies to that end, viz. : ^Mathematics in all its branches, philoso- 
phy, physics, all mechanical works and drawing. Interest your- 
self in all kinds of puzzles, observe closely. Begin early in life 
to study. 

"Children, like tender osiers, take the bow, 
And as they first are fashioned ahvays grow." 

Finished ! Don't say you do not like it. We can find reasons 
to like anything. It all depends on the way we view it. I heard 
of an Irishman who imbibed too freely in a Western town and 
was ridden through the place on a rail. The people lined the 
streets and cheered lustily. After it was all over some one asked 
him. what he thought of it. ''Be gorra," says he, "if it wasn't fur 
the honor of the thing I'd about as lave walk." 

If this little pamphlet turns out to be a cue which directs 
new thought into the vast unlimited field of invention, its mis- 
sion will be filled. Possibly some day the subject will be taught 
in the schools ; possibly those scholars will be the most practical 
people on the earth ; possibly their infiuence in the land will wield 
a mighty Niagara of power. 

Thk End. 



OCT 121907 



Mental Nuts 

Can you Crack 'em ? 

A superb collection of loo old time catch and 
prize problems; famous debaters. They have 
puzzled the people of all times Pleasingly re- 
ferred to in old schoolday talks. Quaint, 
curious and interesting puzzles, calculated to 
call forth the best mental effort. An unique 
curio of intense interest. A great home enter- 
tainer. On heavy paper, bronzed and embossed. 

By mail jo cents, stamps or silver. 

A Book of Maxims 

Illustrated and Alphabetical 

Those terse old sayings, so pleasing to the 

ear, so convincing to the mind; the flowers of 

thought, word pictures of speech, looo lines of 

pros€ and verse. A desirable reference book. 

"Now you shall wish, but wish in vain, 

To call the fleeting words again.' 

To those who fear misquoting, this book will 
prove a valuable treasure. Many times a well- 
chosen maxim conveys the trend of thought 
better than otherwise a full page would do. 
On heavy glazed paper, bronzed and embossed. 

By mail lo cents, stamps or silver. 

Tales of Yarnville 

It is to laugh. Funniest book ever happen- 
ed. O. K. anywhere and everywhere. 

68 Subjects, each a Pearl 

Entertain your friends. Don't be a wall 
flower. If you can't sing, dance, or play the 
fiddle, learn to tell a good one. 

Compact vest pocket size, round corners. 

By mail lo cents, stamps or silver. 



